Buttonhole cutting and stitching machine



E. B. ALLEN.

BUTTONHOLE CUTTING AND STITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJB. 1919.

1,360,704, Patnted Nov. 30, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY E. B. ALLEN.

BuToNHoLE CUTTING AND SUTCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6, 1919.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

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E. B. ALLEN.

BUTTUNHOLE CUTUNG AND STITCHiNG MACHINE.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

I E. B. ALLEN. BuTTuNHoLE CUTTING AND smcHlNG MACHINE.

Patentd Nov 30. 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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QW M QM@ E. B. ALLEN.

BUTTONHOLE CUTTING AND STITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I6| ISHS. l

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.'

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY omiso STATE? n eine op' 'econ PoRA'TIoN' oF NEW JE y EY.

rmroaweemwniim meenemen moines.

Itented N ov. 3f);

Appuatoumea August 16, 191e: serial No. armoe,

TeaM whom t may concern:

B it known that LEDWARD B. ALLEN', n citizen of the United States,Y residin a at Newtown. in the county of Fairfieltland tate of Connecticut, huye invented certain new und usefulV Improvements in Buttolfole Cutting :ind `Stitching Machines, ofwhich the following is a` specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drmvings.`

Buttonholc cutting` and stitching machines, is commonly constructed for clotliing end shoe work,y usually comprise en elongate-.l hollow hed from the rearward end of which rises a standard carrying a forwardly extending bracket-arm henenth which'nnd above the bed are disposed various movingr parts of the huttonliole cutting' und worleelxiinp operating mechanisms. In these machines th'eybuttonhole cutting' mechanism is so devised as to cut the hutt'onhole slit lengthwise ofthe machine bed; inorder that the buttonholes muy be formed atright angles to the edge of the Work which, for mnvenience, is presented to the machine crosswise oi' and upon the forvvrd orclear {nntion of the machine hed.`

lCertain' classes of work, such as collars, mn not he expediently handledby machines oi' the above type for the reason'that, to be iu'cel'itnhle; the leer liuttonhole of the eolhu' must be arranged horizontally orzw'ith its slit parallel to the` lower edge ofVthe collar-hand.` The collar, therefore, cannot' he laid across the forward ory clear portion of the hed of e machine of the labotie ty `ie but would have to be arranged lengthwiseY o1" said hed and it whiildibe dfmcultfto 'safely dispose of the end of the collarv extending l into the space beneathlthe bracket-atmwof the machine, since' thisspece isklnrgl'y filled Vup by moving parts ofthe Workclemp op @rating and huttonho'le cuttingfmechenismrs,

An object of the present invention isto"y provide a machine for cnttngendlstitching huttonholes in positionsy substantially parl lel to theedg of the' work, thereby particularly snitingfthe machine for( cutting find stitchingIA the rear buttonholesgof' collars; l

A further object lof theginveition is' to provide n machine Lfor icuttinsg'` an stitchinga so-clled gap buttorihole; thin? is;v one. wherein a narrow strip of material has been und vWorleclemp.

removed-to form the buttonhole-slit, whereby e, gap `or space is' provided` between' the opposed edges of said slit.

. In buttonhole machines' it is common to provide a needle-throat or buttong the upper surface of which is sulisttihlly fiush with the upper surface of the usuel Worksupporting plates, Which'lazttei are cut away to admit the button and provide cleraice therefor as the work-holder and sewing mechanisms nre given their relative movement to sew around a' buttonhole.

In machines of the type Which Ycut the huttonhole in stitching position, itis customary to tilt or shift the needle-tlirot forwvrdly to avoid interference ivitl`1`-the cutting instrumentalities. In machines of another type, which cut the 'hut'tonhole out of stitching position. it is customary to displace the Work-holder rearwardly prior to the atlvnnce of the cutting implements. In ma chines of either of the ahove'types the worksuppoiting plates are usually eutAz way in from of the stitching point Seniat the flative movement between the throtplate prior to cutting'. niliy be effected.

This cutting away of the wvork-suppo`rt ing! plates in front of the sewing point necessarily removes the support from the Iate-rinl at the front end of tlie buttoxihole slit and, consequentit'y, when the usuel vto'rk clampingfeet are loverd,y the vtfor'it isfriot clamped at the front end of the',ljnttoholer slit although it is securely gripped zilg the sides and rearward end ofV seid slit. VVhet'he: or not thewo'rk is cli'ped at the extreme front end of the hnttonliol slit is relatively unimportant as long the' miiv` terial et tle sides of the slit is securely gripped. Y

If, however, e mchin'e of onel of the' prior types is adapted to cnt the huttnhole cross'- Wiseof' the m'achine bed,' a; cutting away' of the work-supporting' forwardly of the sewing point w v vaintageous as such a. l i ve the support; fbfrfllhlfV i' f 'a" allthe flfehtlde ofzthe buttonhr-eelfitfilmd" as a result, the work Wouldnotbe securely clamped and dfective stitching* would result' nlongone' side oi?` the Vlouli'innhole.

A further ob'ject of the invention is to provide for the supporting and secure clampin of the work at the sides of the buttonlo e-slit, duringl both the cutting and sewing operations, in a machine adapted for stitching buttonholes disposed substantially parallel to the edge of the work or crosswise of the machine bed.

Further, the invention has for an object to provide for the disposal of the cuttings 0r punchings so that none ol' the various mechanisms of the machine will become clogged.

Still further, the invention has for an object to provide the machine with a gap buttonhole cutter of simplified and improved construction, the cutting elements of which are provided with adjustments so th: they may be readily removed for sharpening and replaced in correct operative position relative to the sewing instrumentalities.

To the attainment of the above and other objects, as will hereinafter appear, the invention is preferably embodied in a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine of the type represented in my Patent No. 1,162,207, of November 30, 1915. According to the present improvement the work is presented crosswise of the machine bed, as usual, and is clamped in stitching position. To effect the cutting' of the button-hole in the least possible time, the workholder and cutterlevers are preferably shifted substantially simultaneously in opposite directions and thus caused to meet each other substantially half way at a point displaced from stitching position. In other words, the work-holder is shifted rearwardly toward the cutters and, at the same time, the cutters are shifted forwardly toward the work-holder so that the tivo meet at a given cutting position intermediate stitching position and the normal retracted position of the cutting elements.

In the present instance the cutting elements comprise a punch cutter in the form of a thin blade curved flat-wise so as to be concentric with the fulcrum of its supporting lever and adapted to coperate with a die havin a narrow gap to receive the ex tremity of5 the cutter-blade. The punch and die elements are so arranged on their respective supporting levers as to punch out a narrow strip of material crosswise of the machine bed and thus cut the buttonhole gap or slit substantially parallel to the edge of the work.

To avoidthe necessity of cutting away the work-supporting plates of the work-clamp to clear the needle-throat or button during the movement of the work-holder to cutting. position. provision is made in the present instancefor relatively movin the workholder and needle-throat vertical y to secure a vertical displacement between the workholder and needle-throat permitting the work-holder and the cutter to assume cutting relation. In the present embodiment of the invention this relative vertical movement between the work-holder and needlethroat is provided for `by lifting or tilting the work-holder upwardly so as to clear the needle-throat as the work-holder is being shifted to cutting position; the work-holder being provided with an aperture in advance of the usual sewing aperture to clear the needle-throat while the buttonhole is being cut. This last aperture, however, is not connected with the sewing aperture and the latter is accordingly entirely surrounded by work-supporting surface portions which cooperate with the upper work-clamping means to securely grip the work alon the entire front and'rear sides of the button olesit, as well as at the opposite end of said s it.

The feeding mechanism of the present machine includes the usual feed-wheel which, however, is preferably formed with but one feeding cam-groove designed to produce relative travelinr or feeding movements between the stitch-forming mechanism and work-holder transversely only of the machine bed and therefore lengthwise of the buttonhole; the stitch-forming mechanism including sewing implements which are preferably disposed eccentrically to the axis of their usual supporting turrets, wherei by during the rotation of the stitch-forming mechanism in stitching an end of the buttonhole slit the sewing implements are shifted crosswise of the gap and are in proper position for sewing along the other side thereof.

A better understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed descrlption taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a right side elevation of a machine embodying the invention in its preferred form: the frame being shown largely in section to reveal the internal mechanism, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the machine standard at an elevation above the bed and showing the latter as well as the work-holder and buttonhole cutting mechanism in plan. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the extremity of one of the upper work-clamping arms shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower work-clamping elements or work-supporting plates showing the stitching aperture and throat-plate clearance aperture with the intervening worksupporting surface portion. Fig. 4 is a left side elevation,` partly in section, of the buttonhole cutting mechanism and work-holder in the position which they occupy during the sewing operation. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the parts during the buttonhole cutting operation. Fig. 6 is a detail front elevation of the upper cutting implement and its holder, the front clamping block being removed. Fig. 7 is a front elevation, partly 9.v imi@ in section, off the machine `flied and workholder. Fi 8 is a plan view #of Vthe parte within the ront end of the base of the machine adjacent the sewing point. Fig. 9 iS-.u

.detail wiew oi Ythe ,cutting mechanism ,show- .ing the lmeans for .taking care Vof .the eut- ,tin s. Fig. 10 isa; Y nvziew of gthemaehine be g the work-hol er and cross slide-plate being removed. Eig. lil is a 4plan View-off uthe cross slide-plate. .Fig 12 .isasectiononfthe Kline 12-12, Fig. 104 `but YYshowislilg the cross slide-plate and one .of the work-supporting plates in position upon the leed. Fi 13 is a side elevation cfa modified formo upper cutting element. Fig. 14 is yeseetion ou the une `14Min F' is. Iiig. AY15 is a seen@ on the ,line lb-lgFig 13, and Fig. 16 is a plan view of a gapsfbuttonhole such Vas produced bythe present machine.

In thejpreferredrembodiment of the invention, as illustrated, the machine Vframe.cornprises the hollow rectangular hase 1 from which rises the standard 2 of the'bracketarm 3 terminating in the hollow head 4.

The stitch-forming mechanism of the machine is preferably constructed substantially in accordance witlrthe disclosure of rmy Patent No. 1,162,207, of November 30, 1915, and comprises an upper eye-pointed needle 5 which iscarried by the needle-lona' 6 jonrnaled inthe head 4 for the Vusual ,reeiprocating and axial turning movements. The reciprocating movements are derived from the usual pitman 7 and crank-pin Sat1-,he forward end of the needle-bar actuating Ashaft 9 extending within and lengthwise of Tthe bracket-arm 3. This Shaft carries u bevV gear 9a whehmeshes with a companion gear 10 of Ytwice its size fixed to the upper Lend ofthe'vertical shaft 11 journaledwithin-the standard V2 and at its lower end carrying a bevelgear 12 which `Vmeshes with the driving gear 13 onthe main or sewing-shaft 14 journaled within and lengthwise of the hollow base 1.

The needle 5 cooperates with the usual lower stitch-forming instrumentailties in cluding thecurved needle 15 carried by the usual rotary .turret l5a mounted to turn within the curb 16 about a rertieal Vanis eoincident wth the axis of the needlefber 6. Duringthe sewing operation the `needle-bar and turret receive simultaneous step-by-step turning movements from the upper `and lower sector-gears 17 and 41t?. respectively. These gears are connected in the usual manner to a vertical shaft 19 to move in unison and are operated from the eed-wheel20. all as more xfully set fOr-th in=mysaid Patent No. 1,162,207, and iii-.my pending appliestion Serial No. 217,483,V tiled February 16, 1918.

Supported upon the turret 15a is a post 21 carrying the usual needle-throat or button 22 which is formed `witlrthe usualceseentshaped aperture 23 ythrough the extremity Tof which the upper and lower needles are adapted to pass. Unlike the construcxtion disclosed in luy said Patent No. 1,162,241.7,the present .support -ortheneedlethroat not mounted for tilting movement to permit theyadvance of the buttonhole cutyter, butis ri id with the turret at all times.

The .work-` older isrof the usual traveling :type which, however, in Vthe ,present instance, receives only lateral components of motion `from the said wheel 20. In other words, the present work-holder is moved cross-wise onlyof the bed 1 during the sewopeiation. While any suitable type oi work-holderinay lief-used, i`[ prefer to employ a work-holder which, except for certaiau important modifications to be hereinafter de` scribed, is constructed substantially in accordance with the disclosure of my Patent No. 1,240,612, of 'September 18. 1917. Such a work-holder comprises a Vpair of lower clamping plates 2-1 which are removably mounted, as usual, upon the cross slideplate 25. The cross slide-plate is formed at its Aforward extremity with spaced notches 26 which are entered by the Shanks of the headed studs 2T depending from the lower work-supporting or clamping plates 24. Suitable spring catches 28 are utilized to retain the studs 2T in their respective notches 26 in the cross slide-plate.

At Vtheir rearward ends, the work-supporting plates 2-1 are held in operative position upon the cross slide-plate by means of the confining blocks 29 which are secured to the upper surface oi' a plate 33 which forms a part-of the longitudinal slide-frame 39.

Referring to Figs 2, 9 and 1'0 it will be seen that the longitudinal slide-frame 30 comprises the side `bars 31` 31 which are formed with ribs 32, 32, Fig. 9, titted to corresponding undercut grooves on the bed 1. The hars 31 are connected at their rearward ends by the plate which serves to hold the oars rigidly in parallel relation.

ligidly secured lwithin suitable depres-- sions 34 in the bed 1 are the Shanks 35 ot' the forwardly extending arms 36 to which are =pivotally secured by screw-pins 37, 3T, the lower ends of the links 3S, 38 in the apertured upper ends of which are rigidly secured. by set-screws 39 the cross slide-rod hlillftheopposite extremities of which extend into'the vertical slots l1 in the forward ends ofrthe side bars B1 of the longitudinal slideframe 30.

As shown in Figs. .4. T and lLthe cross slide-plate 25 is vibrmed at its forward end with lspaced depending flugs 12 which are apertured to receive and slide crosswise of the machine bed upon the rod 40. At its rearward end the cross slide-plate is thinned down to form tongues 43, 43. which slide along corresponding transverse undercut grooves at the forward edge of the plate The usual springs L14, i4 which carried by the work-supporting plates 24- and bear outwardly against the ahutnients L15, 45, on the plate 33 serve to maintain the rearward ends of the plates 24 in engagement with the stop-blocks 4G carried by the cross slideplate 25. No clamp spreading means are employed in the present construction.

rl`he work-supporting plates 24 are formed in their meeting edges 47 with complemental notches alfording an elongated aperture 48 extending crosswise of the bed 1 and transverscly of the standard Q and bracket-arm 3 of the machine frame. This aperture receives the needle-throat 22 during the sewing operation. as shown in ltig. Ll, and consequently emlnaces the paths of movement of the upper and lower needles which pass through the extremities of the crescentshaped aperture in the needle-throat. The aperture L8 in the lower clamp-plates has straight and uninterrupted front and rear sides along which the work is firmly clamped hy means of the clamping foot 49. One of the work-clamping plates 24 is formed with an additional aperture 50 which is ,spaced forwardly of the aperture 48 and receives the needle-throat when the work-holder is shifted to cutting position. as shown in Fig. 5. This latter aperture is separated from the elongated aperture 48 by a tongue 51 which assists in supporting the work against thc pressure of the clamping foot 49 and enables the work to be firmly clamped along the entire front side of the huttonhole-slit.

The lower clamping plates 2l carry the brackets 52 within which are fulcrumed at 52,3 the rearward ends of the usual upper clamping arms 54 which, in the present instance. carry at their forward ends the pretiously-nientioned clamping foot 49; the latter being formed with an elongated aperture .35. Fig. 3. extending crosswise of the bed l and adapted to register with the aperture 4H in the work-supporting plates 24. The under surface of the foot 49. being roughened, operates to securely clamp the work against the roughened upper surface adjacent the aperture 4S in the lower clamping plates.

The foot 49 is secured at one end to the. forward extremity of one of the clamping arms 54 by the screw 56 and at its other end carries a screw 57 the shank of which is reeived within the notch 58 at the forward extremity of the other clamping arm and held therein by means of the piyoted latch .35. l'pon opening the latch the foot 49 may be swung about the screw 56 as a pivot to expose the needle-throat :Z2 and other parts stationed below said foot, It is to be understood that the screws 56 and 57 do not fit the apertures in the arms 54 so tightly as to prevent the. foot from tilting slightly to accommodate itself to inequalities in the work and exert an even pressure thereon at opposite sides and ends of thej buttonhole slit.

lt is understood that the feed-wheel 2() has in its upper surface a cam-groove 60 which operates through the usual lever connection (i1. such as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,039,241, of September 24, 191 2, to impart the necessary step-by-step feeding motion to the workholder crosswise of the machine bed 1. Step-by-step rotary motion is imparted to the feed-wheel through the usual gear connections 62, Fig. 1. with the starwheel (lil which is driven by the diametri,- cally opposed pins Gl at the lower end of the shaft 11.y as more fully disclosed in my said copending application Serial No. 217.1-83.

The present` machine preferably embodies a n auxiliar)Y shaft (i5 which performs a. sinlgie rotation prior to sewing, and another auxiliary shaft 66 which performs a single rotation subsequent to sewing. These shafts and the controlling connections therewith are preferably constructed substantially in accordance with the disclosure of my said eopending application Serial No. 2175483; the first mentioned auxiliary shaft 65 will he rt-"cognized as the usual cutter shaft and is controlled by means of the usual driving und driven disks 67 and G8 and interposed clutch device 69 with clutch-controlling lever 70 pivotetl on the machine frame at 71 for movement toward and away from the clutch device 69.

The cutter-.shaft 65 carries the usual cams ft2 and T3 which cooperate, respectively, with the rearward ends of the cutter-levers 7i and 75 to rock the latter about their common fulcrum 76 in the traveling fulcrumhlock 77 mounted to slide longitudinally of the bed 1 in the usual ways 78 and receiving its traveling movement from the link 79 and usual cutter-advancing and. retracting cum 80 on the cutter-shaft 65, all as disclosed in my Patent No. 1.048.786 of December 31, 1912.

The upper cutter-lever is formed at its forward end with seat 81, Fig. 4. which is curved concentrically with the axis of tht` fulcrum-pin 7G for said lever. Fitted against this seat is the correspondingly curved thin blade 82, the upper end of which is squared olf to abut against the shoulder 83 at the upper end of the seat 81. The blade 8i! is clamped upon the seat 81 by means of the curved clamping block 84 and screw 85 which passes through an enlarged aperture 86 in the blade 82 and permits sidewise adjustment of said blade to insure that the buttonhole slit muy he cut in a position such that one end of such slit in exact registry with the path of the curved needle on its first ascent.

The blade 82 is adapt-ed to act as a punch in coperation with the die 87 having a slit like aperture 88 for reception of the lower end ot the blade 82 and adjustably secured upon the forward extremity of the lower cutter-lever 'T5 by means of the screws 89, the shanks of which pass through enlarged apertures 90, Fig. 8, in the die 87. By virtue of the adjustments above described the cutter and die may be accurately registered to cut the buttonhole-slit or gap centrally of the stitched pattern produced by the stitchforming mechanism.

In the modified forni of cutter illustrated in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the upper cutter-lever 74 is formed with a curved seat 81 which, like the seat 81, is concentric with the fulcrum of its supporting lever. The curved blade 82 is clamped affainst the seat 81 by means of a clamping block 84 and screw 85 which passes through enlarged apertures 86', 80". in the block and cutter-blade. The lever T4 supports a curved Vblock 91 which is clamped to the surface 81 by means of the screw 92 which passes through the slot 93 in said block. permitting adjustment of the block lengthwise of the surface 81 t0 bring the shoulder 83 at the front or lower edge ol' said block into abutting relation with the squared off rearward end of the cutter-blade S2. lhen the blade 82 is replaced after having been removed for sharpening it may be adjusted to enter the die'87 the correct distance` after which the abutment block 91 is adjusted so as to engage and back up the upper end of the blade 82. The blade 82 being nothing more than a flat metal strip of uniform cross-sectional dimensions throughout its length` curved flatwise to the proper radius. is easily made up from strip stock and attached to the upper cutter-lever. As will be observed in Fig. the cutters are advanced and closed to cut the buttonhole in a position displaced rearwardly from stitching position which in this figure is represented by the needle-throat 22.

In order that the work may be presented to the cutters and returned to stitching position, provision is made for shifting the work-holder rearwardly to cutting position, preferably simultaneously with the advance of the cutter-levers. Secured to the rearward left-hand corner of the longitudinal slide frame 30 is a post 94: to which is pivoted by the screw-pin 95 the forward end of a link 96'the slotted rear 'end of which embraces a block 97 mounted upon the screwpin 98 which is concentric with ,the cuttershaft 65. Lengthwise motion is imparted to the link 96 by means of the cam 99 on the cutter-shaft; said cam having a slot 100 which is entered by the follower roll 101 carried by the link 96. Y

When the work-holder is in stitching position, asshown in Fig. 4, the links 38 are inclined forwardly and upwardly, and the needle-throat Z2 is received within the a erture 48 in the lower clamp-plates 24. pon actuation of the cutter-shaft 65, rearward movement of the longitudinal slide-frame 30 causes they cross slide-rod 40 to be rocked rearwardly about the pivots 3T, thereby elevatingl the cross slide-plate 25 and clampplates 24 as the links 38 move through the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This elevation of the work-holder, during its rearward movement, lifts the tongue 51 clear of the needle-throat and prevents interference between these parts. it is, of course, understood that there is sutlicient play between the rearward edges of the cross slide and work-supporting plates and their retaining` means, to permit of the upward tilting,r movement above described.

The work-clamp may be closed by means of the usual clamp-closing lever i012 which is fulcrumcd on the standard2 at 103 and is actuated by means of the clamp-closing cam 104 on the cutter-shaft G5. At its forward end, the clamp-closing level' 102 is adapted to engage and depress the arm 105 carried by one of the usual alined shaft sections 10G of work-holders of the present type which. as is well known` embody the oifset fork and pin connection 10i' to cause the shaft sections 106 to turn in unison in closing and opening the clamp.

The machine is provided with the stopmotion s of well known construction and with the usual controlling' mechanism for throwing the stop-motion to runninpr position as the shaft 65 is completingr its single rotation. The machine is also provided with mechanism for starting the second auxiliary shaft G6 when the stop-motion operates to stop the machine after the sewing is completed. These various devices are con- `structed substantially in accordance with the disclosure of my said application Serial No. 217.483, and as they are not claimed specifically herein further description thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

The machine is also preferably equipped with the thread-cuttingr mechanism disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 283,603, filed March 19. 1919, and with the finger-release mechanism for tripping the machine into action as disclosed in my `co pending application Serial No. 283.604,-filed Iarch 19, 1919. vSuch devices. however, form no part of the present invention.

In order to take care of the clippings which are punched from the material bythe action of the cutter-blade 82 and die 87. the machine is preferably provided below the cutter-levers 75 with a sheet-metal trough 108 having side walls 109 and a rear end wall 110; the trough being open at its front end 111 below which is disposed a circular trough 112 surroundingthe rotary turret 15EL of the lower stitch-forming instrumentalities. The circular trough 1.12 is pro vided in its bottom wall with a discharge orifice 113 below which is situated the receptacle 114.

Secured to the lower cutter-lever 7:3 is a brush 115 which extends crosswise of and bears upon the bottom of the trough 109. During the advance of the cutter-levers, this brush operates to push into the circular trough 112 any clippings which may lodge in the ltrough 108. Similarly, the rotary turret 15a carries a brush 116 which operates during the turning movement of the turret to sweep the clippings around the trough U2 until they fall through the discharge oriiire 113 into the receptacle 114 from which they may be removed from time to time.

A sample of work, which the present machine is adapted to do, is shown in Fig. 16, wherein the body fabric c has gap or slit h extending substantially parallel to the edge c of the body fabric. The usual overseaniing stitches d cover the raw edges of fabric at the gap b.

In the operation of the machine, the work is placed beneath the raised clamping foot 49, with the edge of the work lying cross wise of the bed l. and the machine is started in the usual manner as by depressing the linger-piece j', which trips the ciittei'-sliaft into action to perform its customary single rotation and then come to rest. During the rotation of the cutter-shaft, the clamp is closed and the work-holder retracted. the clamp-plates 24 being lifted clear of the needle-throat 22. The cutter-levers are ad ranced and closed to cut the huttonhole slit, whereupon the work-holder is returned to stitching position while the cutter-levers are being retracted to inoperative position, Fig. 4.

During the latter part of the single rotation of the cutter-shaft 65. the stitch-forming mechanism is tripped into action and as the stitching` proceeds. the feed-wheel Q0 operates to shift the work-holder step-bystep crosswise of the machine bed. `When one side of the buttonhole has been stitched, the work-holder remains motionless while the supporting means for the stitch-forming mechanism partakcs of a. half rotation in placing the radial stitches'about the end of the buttonhole. Upon completion of the second side and end of the buttonhole the stitch-forming mechanism comes to rest, the thread is eut and clamps are opened in any usual or suitable manner.

While I'have shown and described a machine embodying the invention in its preferred'form, it is to be understood that the presentV Econstruction is susceptible of material modification, both in the Vform and arrangement of the various parts.V within the scopeacf thednvention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1..In'a buttonhole sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle and a needlethroat, a work-holder havingr an elongated aperture to admit the needle-throat during the sewing operation and including worksupporting surfaces at opposite sides of said aperture, a buttonhole slit critter, feeding mechanism for relatively moving the stitch-forming mechanism and work-holder to sew around a buttonhole-slit, means for relatively moving the work-holder and huttonhole-cutter widthwise of said aperture to bring them into cutting relation. and means for relatively moving the work-holder and needle-throat vertically to secure the displacement of the needle-throat from the aperture in the work-holder prior to the cutting operation.

2. In a buttonhole sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle and a needlethroat, a buttonhole slit cutter. a workholder having an elongated aperture for reccption of said needle-throat and also having means adjacent said aperture for clamping the work along substantially the entire length of the buttonhole at both sides of the buttonhole-slit, feeding mechanism lor producing relative movement between sail stitch-forming mechanism and worleholiler to sew around a buttonhole, and means for relatively moving said work-holder and needle-throat vertically and for relatively moving said work-holder and stitch-forming mechanism transversely of said aperture prior to the buttonhole cutting operation to permit the work-holder and buttonholecutter to assume cutting relation without interference with the stitch-forming mechanism.

3. In a buttonhole sewing machine. in combination, stitclrforming mechanism including a reciprocating needle and a needlethroat, a buttonhole slit cutter. a. workholder having an elongated aperture for reeeption of said needle-throat and also having means adjacent said aperture for clamping the work along substantially the entire length of the'buttonholc at both sides o!" the buttonhole-slit. feeding mechanism for producing relative movement between said stitch-forming mechanism and work-holder to sew around a buttonhole` and means for relatively V'moving` said worleholder and needle-throat vertically and for moving the work-holder in a. `i'lirection transversely Voi" said aperture prior to the buttonhole cutting operation to permit Vthe work-holder and buttonhole cutter to assume cutting relation in a position spaced from stitching position.

4, I n a buttonhole sewing machine,

combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle and a needlethroat, a buttonhole slit cutter, a workholder having an elongated aperture for reception of said needle-throat and also having means adjacent said aperture for clamping the work along substantially the entire length of the buttonhole at both sides of the buttonhole-slit, feeding mechanism for producing relative movement between said stitch-forming mechanism and work-holder to sew around a buttonhole, and means for lifting said work-holder clear of the needlethroat and for shifting said work-holder to cutting position in a direction transversely of said aperture.

ln a buttonhole sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle and a needlethroat, a buttonhole slit cutter, a workholder having an elongated aperture for reception of said needle-throat and also having means adjacent said aperture for clamping the Work along substantially the entire length of the buttonhole at both sides of the buttonhole-siit, said work-holder being mounted for upward tilting movement about its rearward end as a fulcrum, feeding mechanism for producing relative stitch-positioning movements between said stitch-forming mechanism and work-holder to sew around a buttonhole, and means for tilting said work-holder upwardly about its rearward end as a fulcrum and for bodily 'shifting said work-holder in a direction transversely of said aperture prior to the buttonholecutting operation.

G. In a buttonhole sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle and a needlethroat, a work-holder apertured to receive the needle-throat, feeding mechanism for producingr relative movement between the stitch-forming mechanism and work-holder to sew around a buttonhole, a buttonhole cutter and means for shifting the workholder from stitching to cutting position, said means including mechanism for lifting' the work-holder clear of the needle-throat.

7. In a bnttonhole sewing machine, in combination, a frame including a bed, a standard rising from said bed and a bracketarm carried by said standard and overhanging said bed, stitch-forming mechanism incorporated in said frame and includingr a reciprocating needle and a needle-throat, a work-holder having means for clamping the work throughout substantiallyT the entire length of the buttonhole at opposite sides of the buttonhole-slit and also having an aperture elongated transversely of said standard and bracket-arm and adapted to receive the needle-throat during the stitching operation, a buttonhole-cutter normally remote from stitch-forming mechanism and adapted to cut the buttonhole-slit within and lengthwise of said aperture, feeding mechanism for relatively moving the stitch-forming mechanism and Work-holder to sew around a buttonhole and means for rela.- tively moving the work-holder and needlethroat-vertically and for substantially simultaneously shifting the work-holder and buttonhole cutter toward each other to bring them into cutting relation intermediate stitching position and the normally retracted position of said cutter.

S. In a buttonhole sewing machine, in combination, a buttonhole-cutter, a workholder, one or more pivotally mounted links inclined to the vertical for movably sustaining the forward end of said work-holder, and means for shifting the work-holder toward the buttonhole-cutter, whereby said links in rocking past the vertical position cause the forward end of the work-holder to be elevated during the movement to cutting position.

9. In a buttonhole sewing machine, a frame including a bed and an overhanging bracket-arm, a buttonhole cutter, a pair of arms rigidly secured to and projecting forwardly from said bed, forwardly and upwardly inclined links pivotally sustained at their lower ends by said arms, a work-holder disposed above said bed and having its forward end sustained by said links, said workholder being free to slide transversely of said bed and bracket-arm without rocking said links, and means for shifting the work` holder rearwardly to cutting position, whereby said links cause the forward end of the work-holder to be elevated during the movement to cutting position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD B. ALLEN. 

